This last week of September will be fairly calm, but with a few chances for rain. After starting off chilly, Monday will open the week with clear skies and seasonable afternoon temperatures. A front will likely touch off rain showers Monday night that may linger into early Tuesday Morning. Wednesday will likely be calm with clouds building in the evening. Rain showers are possible Wednesday night through Thursday night. High temperatures will generally run around 70 this week with low temperatures generally in the mid 50s. Clear skies Tuesday night will allow temperatures to fall into the upper 40s.

Summer 2016
will go down as one of the warmest on record
across the Hudson Valley. In Albany, this past summer was the 4th hottest recorded in over 140 years. Mohonk Lake in Ulster County also recorded its 4th hottest summer in its 120 year history. Further south, the Dutchess County airport recorded its second warmest summer since records began in 1949. Dutchess County also had a notable summer in that the temperature reached at least 90 degrees on 31 separate days. This is more than any other year on record. The peak temperatures of the summer were 98 degrees in Dutchess County, 90 degrees at Mohonk, and 94 degrees in Albany.

The excessive local heat recordings mirror those found across the Globe, which experienced its warmest June-August on record this year, exceeding the previous record set in 2015.

When it comes to rainfall,
the region has been below normal with southern areas now experiencing moderate drought conditions. Since June first, Dutchess County has recorded 10.6 inches of rain, which is nearly six inches below normal. Mohonk recorded 14 inches, which is 2 inches below normal. While Albany recorded 15.5 inches since June, which is one inch above normal.

All parts of the Valley have been drier than normal for September with only Albany recording more than an inch of rain so far this month. Mohonk and Dutchess County are both nearly two inches below normal for the month, resulting in those moderate drought conditions.

Looking ahead to the coming autumn,
the Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above normal temperatures for our area with equal chances for a wetter or drier than normal season. And let’s not forget that most autumns do bring some snowfall. Here in Kingston, the average date of the first measurable snowfall is
November 26th.

Extended-Outlook School Impact Probability
October 3rd - October 7th
Last Updated: Sunday September 25th